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How to fix Medicare? Strengthen the GP system. "Of all doctors, they are the specialty that delivers the best bang for every health dollar," AMA President Dr Michael Gannon has told the Economic and Social Outlook Conference in Melbourne.

The AMA has long argued that doctors should be regarded as an integral part of the aged care workforce, in the same way that they are an integral part of the hospital workforce. Now, a Senate Committee agrees.

For 30 years, Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe has juggled his solo GP practice in Perth with his active roles in medical politics. The stalwart of general practice advocacy has been recognised with the AMA President's Award.

The Federal Budget does not contain everything the AMA had hoped for, but it does show a Minister who has recognised past faults and is willing to engage with the health sector, AMA President Dr Michael Gannon says.

More work needs to be done to educate patients about the My Health Record program, with only 147 of the one million people taking part in an opt-out trial setting up a PIN number to protect their information, AMA Vice President Dr Tony Bartone says.

Google has launched health cards with medically-verified details of more than 900 health conditions and diseases. AMA Vice President Dr Tony Bartone says it's a long-overdue improvement in the quality of information, but patients should still see their doctor if they are concerned about symptoms.

Since Dr Google entered the vernacular a decade ago, people have been researching symptoms on the internet and coming up with inaccurate diagnoses. AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, says Google's move to provide higher quality information is a positive, but it can never replace a visit to the doctor.

AMA Vice President, Dr Tony Bartone, talks to Sky News about the AMA's call for general practice funding to be increased to 10 per cent of the overall health budget, and about the upcoming Federal budget. He also says that the Prime Minister needs to make a decision as soon as possible about the future of Health Minister Sussan Ley.

GP services account for just 8 per cent of Commonwealth health spending, and GP-specific research projects attract just 2 per cent of total NHMRC grants funding. The AMA is calling for targets to bring funding to GPs in line with their increasing workload, and their importance to the health system.

The AMA launched its 2016 Safe Hours Audit, an online survey to assess the fatigue risk of the working hours of salaried doctors and doctors in training, including GP registrars. AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said that fatigue and quality medical care do not mix.